Busting the myths: DNA typeability after 48 hours of boil

The aim of our study was to monitor the quality and quantity of DNA in bone samples that were boiled for 48 h. Bos taurus bone disks were sampled every hour for 48 h. The subsequent DNA analysis used multiple mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) targets (100–700 bp) to evaluate the quality and quantity of the DNA extracted. The DNA extracted from bone disks remained typeable after boiling for 48 h. We have proven that DNA typing results can be obtained even after long-term boiling.     

应用mtDNA COI基因序列鉴别常见嗜尸性蝇类种属

目的探讨mtDNA基因序列对常见嗜尸性蝇类的种属鉴别应用价值。方法收集不同区域2科4属6个种30个蝇类样本,提取样本线粒体DNA后扩增COI基因序列,以琼脂糖电泳检测扩增产物并测序,以DNAMAN6.0分析软件分别截取498bp序列,用MEGA5.2软件分别进行序列分析,然后构建系统发育树,比较各地区不同种属样本的序列差异。结果 6个种属的嗜尸性蝇类30个样本mtDNA的COI基因具有一定的序列差异,种内进化分歧均数在0.1%~1.6%之间,种间进化分歧均数在2.2%~11.2%之间,6个种属通过系统发育树均可明确区分。结论 COI基因序列分析和系统发育树对嗜尸性蝇类的种属检验具有重要帮助作用,可用于现场样本的准确、快速种属鉴定。     

Analysis of eight mtDNA coding region polymorphisms for characterization of the female lineages ancestry in Alagoas,Brazil

In this work we evaluated eight mitochondrial DNA coding region polymorphisms (8281–8289d, 1736, 13263, 4883, 3594, 10873, 10400, and 12705) in order to identify lineages of African, Amerindian and European origin in Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil. Seven of these polymorphisms were detected by multiplex minisequencing with SnaPshot. For validation purposes a sample previously characterized by sequencing of the HVI and HVII regions was analyzed. Good agreement was observed between the phylogenetic results obtained in this work and the HVI and HVII regions sequencing. The results obtained suggest that the set of markers evaluated in this study can be used in ancestry studies of Brazilian populations.     

Current Next Generation Sequencing technology may not meet forensic standards

In a Nature paper of 2010, the concern was raised that intra-individual mtDNA variation may be more pronounced than previously believed, in that heteroplasmies are common and vary markedly from tissue to tissue. This claim taken at face value would have considerable impact on forensic casework. It turns out however that the employed technology detected the germ-line variation relative to the reference sequence only incompletely: on average at least five mutations were missed per sample, as an in silico reassessment of the data reveals. Before one can really set out to access to entire mtDNA genome data with relative ease for forensic purposes, one needs careful calibration studies under strict forensic conditions—or might have to wait for another generation.     

法医线粒体DNA检测的系统效能及应用价值

线粒体DNA（mitochondrial DNA，mtDNA）遗传标记的检测在法医学实践中有着重要的价值。线粒体DNA异质性的出现，对检测体系的系统效能存在着影响，主要表现在对所检测样本的单倍型的认同及个体识别概率的计算上。通过建立mtDNA数据库，找出异质性在人群中的发生频率，并使检测异质性的方法标准化．对线粒体DNA的更有效检测具有重要意义；线粒体DNA编码区多态性位点在提高线粒体DNA系统效能中具有独到之处。因此，更进一步地进行mtDNA编码区多态性的探索．将进一步提高线粒体DNA检测的系统效能。     

人与动物mtDNA细胞色素b基因的序列差异

目的 探讨人与动物之间mtDNA细胞色素b(Cyt-b)基因序列差异及其种属鉴定。方法 采用1对Cyt-b基因通用引物对人和19种动物共171例样本的mtDNA进行PCR扩增,琼脂糖凝胶检测扩增产物,ABI 377测序仪及荧光测序技术分析扩增产物的DNA序列。结果 所有样本均检测到1条358bp的扩增片段;任何两种动物扩增片段的序列都不相同,人与19种动物的序列差异在18.9％-30.0％,19种动物之间的序列差异在5.9％-32.9％。同种动物不同个体间只有人、驴及小白鼠存在变异,最多有4个碱基变异位点(1.3％),其它动物未发现种内变异。结论 人与不同种动物的Cyt-b基因序列存在差异,以此可区分不同种属的动物。     

mtDNA异质性及其法医学应用

线粒体DNA（mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA）是惟一的细胞核外DNA.人类mtDNA为一裸露的环状双链结构,长16569 bp,由富含嘌呤的重链（H链）和富含嘧啶的轻链（L链）组成.mtDNA编码区的序列相对保守,其非编码区长1122bp,又称为控制区.控制区的碱基变异相对集中分布在15996～16401nt和29～408nt两个区段,分别称为HV Ⅰ和HVⅡ.后来,Lutz等发现在438～574nt间也存在较多的碱基变异,称为HVⅢ.mtDNA呈母系遗传特征,加之其拷贝数多、突变率高、抗腐败能力强,具有极高的法医学应用价值.     

Phylogeographic investigations: the role of trees in forensic genetics

The human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome is commonly analyzed in various disciplines, such as population, medical, and forensic genetics, but conceptual and scientific exchange between them is still limited. Here we review several aspects of the mtDNA phylogeny that are particularly--but not exclusively--of interest to the forensic community. Among the issues that arise, we emphasize the importance of integrating evolutionary concepts into the forensic routine. We also discuss topics such as mtDNA mutation-rate heterogeneity and the weight of evidence, ethnic affiliations of mtDNA profiles, and the abuse of reference databases. Finally, we show the usefulness of coding-region variation in a forensic context.     

中国汉族人群的线粒体DNA控制区多态性研究

探讨mtDNA多态性在法庭科学中个体识别的理论基础。应用PCR扩增产物直接测序方法 ,对 111名中国北方地区汉族人群无血缘关系个体的mtDNA控制区 (HVⅠ和HVⅡ )进行测序分析。在高变区Ⅰ 15 998～ 16 40 0之间发现 10 2处碱基变异 ,10 3个mtDNA单倍型 ;在高变区Ⅱ 0 0 0 35～ 0 0 36 9之间的发现 36处碱基变异 ,6 9个mtDNA单倍型。其可变碱基的变异形式主要为碱基替代 (转换和颠换 )、插入和缺失 ;碱基转换 (78 9% )明显高于颠换(14 3% )、插入 (3 4% ) ,缺失 (3 4% )。分析表明 ,人群个体mtDNA控制区碱基序列 ,基因多样性为 99 9% ,两个无关个体的偶合概率为 0 92 % ,具有高度序列的多态性     

Identification of the source of ivory idol by DNA analysis

In this study, we describe a forensic case dealing with the identification of the source of the processed ivory object by DNA analysis. Two pieces of Lord Krishna's idols from a shop were confiscated by an investigating agency of the Indian government and forwarded to us to identify the source of its origin. We succeeded in isolating DNA from both processed ivory idols by using the phenol/chloroform DNA extraction method. The extracted DNA was subjected to PCR amplification using an elephant-specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop marker. DNA sequence analysis of the amplified fragment of mtDNA D-loop region confirmed that the idols were consistent with Asian elephant with 99% similarity.